Racism puts Aboriginal kids at abuse risk

Racism contributes to a heightened risk of Aboriginal children being sexually abused in institutions by separating them from the protection of strong indigenous cultures, researchers say.

The research conducted for the child abuse royal commission suggests a strong connection to culture can help protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from being abused in institutions.

The researchers found racism contributes to the disproportionate institutionalisation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care and juvenile justice, where the situational risks for child sex abuse are high.

"(It) contributes to the heightened risk of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children being abused in those settings by separating them from the protections of strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures," the report released on Wednesday said.

"In this way, strong connections to culture may be protective for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children via their role in combating racism."

Improving connection to culture for indigenous children in institutions and addressing systemic racism may help protect against sexual abuse and improve the safety of those children, the team of researchers said.

While noting there is no comprehensive data available, the researchers theorised from historical evidence it is likely that indigenous children face a heightened risk of child sexual abuse in institutions compared to non-Aboriginal children.

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"We have highlighted the racist social attitudes that dehumanised, denigrated and sexualised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and empowered perpetrators by providing legal and social sanction to high levels of sexual and other violence committed against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples," they said.

The report found Aboriginal children face more of the known risk factors for child sexual abuse in institutional settings compared with non-Aboriginal children.

"When they are in residential institutions they also face less of the known protective factors such as connection to culture, high self-esteem, strong identity and access to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults they know and trust."